Preventing a Drowning Accident
Written by greg on June 10, 2013
Summer is the time when children in Houston can play and have a lot of fun in a swimming pool. Unfortunately, each year several youngsters die in swimming pool accidents in the greater Houston area.
Ever wonder how much time it takes to drown? Young children have drowned when a parent or caregiver got up to answer a phone, went to the door to receive a package or even went to the restroom.
The list of distractions and reasons why a young child was not being watched near the water are many. Even some children who can swim can drown in some conditions. The younger the child, the more likely they are to panic and need help.
For every child who grounds there are three or four raw hospitalize you almost drown. Each year approximately 3000 children are treated in emergency rooms for drowning incidents. Many can suffer permanent brain injury because of the lack of oxygen.
If you own a pool there are several methods that you can use to improve the safety of your pool. The first method is to have redundant or backup safety measures. In other words, have more than one method of preventing a drowning. If you have a child proof fence around your pool, put in a splash alert or other warning devise in the event a child gets over the fence. Many new devices for pool safety can be purchased for under $100.
Suggested safety guidelines for children at pools:
* Never leave a child unattended near water
* Keep a constant eye on children playing in or near water
* Gate your swimming pool and include a self-closing gate opening outward with the latch out of a child’s reach.
* Get your children swimming lessons as soon as possible from a certified instructor
* take CPR classes and become proficient
* install a safety pool cover in addition to your gate and fence.
There are many pool accidents that occur at residential pools and many that happen in apartment complex drownings. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act was enacted in 2007 to prevent unnecessary drain entrapments in pools and spas. The act generally covers apartment complex pools and other pools generally open to the public or available for use without a fee. The law goes a long way to prevent an apartment complex pool drowning.
The important point of pool safety is that children should be supervised at all times. Even children who are swimmers need to be supervised constantly. Backup safety devices can prevent needless tragedies in many instances.
Visit our drowning accident law firm page at: https://baumgartnerlawyers.com/practice-area/drowning-accident-attorney/